Terry Meyocks, a former official with the New York Racing Association and National Thoroughbred Racing Association, was officially named national manager of the Jockeys' Guild Sept. 6.

Terry Meyocks, a former official with the New York Racing Association and National Thoroughbred Racing Association, was officially named national manager of the Jockeys’ Guild Sept. 6.

Guild chairman of the board John Velazquez, in a release, said the organization signed a service agreement with Meyocks & O’Hara Racing Enterprises Inc. As part of that agreement, Meyocks will serve as Guild national manager effective immediately.

Meyocks & O’Hara Racing Enterprises was formed by Meyocks and former racing industry executive Philip O’Hara earlier this year to pursue strategic acquisitions and provide management and advisory services within the racing industry.

As Guild national manager, Meyocks will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Guild, while O’Hara will assist in management of the Guild’s business affairs, according to the release.

The Blood-Horsereported Sept. 5 that the naming of Meyocks as national manager of the Guild was imminent.

“The Guild is very pleased to be able to appoint as national manager an industry leader with the stature of Terry Meyocks,” Velazquez said in a statement. “This appointment shows that the Guild is becoming stronger and more financially sound. We are confident that Terry will improve communication with our membership and encourage a spirit of cooperation with all segments of the racing industry. We are committed to increasing jockeys' mount fees, insurance benefits, and on-track safety.”

Meyocks takes over from Dwight Manley, who announced his resignation Sept. 5.

“I look forward to working with John and the rest of the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse jockeys to increase the effectiveness of the organization and to help it promote horse racing,” Meyocks said. “We will help further the Guild’s efforts related to the issues addressed by John. At the same time, we plan on bettering communication with the membership and increasing the awareness of NTRA Charities-Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, which provides aid in the form of healthcare and daily living expenses for the nation’s permanently disabled jockeys.

“Furthermore, we are looking to build bridges in the industry among all the stakeholders. With star horses continuing to be sent to the breeding shed after short careers, we believe that it is necessary to market the sport with participants that will have significantly longer careers, including the jockeys. The Jockeys’ Guild is prepared to help racing move forward. We need to work together as an industry if we are going to succeed in growing the sport.”

Meyocks started his career working in the racing department before being named racing secretary at Calder Race Course in 1979. In 1991, he was hired as the director of racing at Gulfstream Park. He held those two positions until 1993, when he joined NYRA as vice president of racing.

In 1995, Meyocks was named vice president of operations at NYRA and held that position until December 1996, when he was named president and chief operating officer of NYRA. After leaving NYRA in April 2004, he was named special assistant to the commissioner of the NTRA, and later served as vice president of racing and industry membership for the NTRA.

O’Hara is a longtime racing industry executive who has worked at Penn National Race Course and more recently Equibase.